Thus Spake...

It was his first ever formal test at school and Skanda was really nonchalant about the whole matter. He still does not know about the rat race you see?

I was reviewing his English answer sheet. I had to sign and return it to his school the next day. Below is an excerpt on the actual conversation.

I see a picture on the paper with questions related to that below it. There is a basket of apples placed on a table among many other things in the frame.

Me (reading aloud): How many apples are there in the basket?
Skanda (reads out what he’s written): There are many apples in the basket.
Me: Okay, your teacher has written six. Why did you write many?
Skanda (patiently explaining): Amma, this is an English test not a Math test.
Me (okay!): So you did not think you should count? The picture shows 6 apples.
Skanda (duh Amma): It shows that there are 6 apples on the basket, how can I count the apples inside the basket? So, I wrote “many”. Ma’am is wrong. I am correct.
Me: Yes. I agree :-)

Out of the box thinking isn’t it? He really does have a good perspective of things. We should let kids “think” more often.

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Here’s another interesting dialogue between an aunt and my younger one (Pranav).

Aunt: What will you be when you grow up?
Pranav: A Ghost.

Should I write what happened next? Aunt was scandalized; my mom reproached me for watching Supernatural when kids were around ;-). But I ask, could you please learn how to speak with kids aged 3 years? Is that a question to be asked? You asked for it!
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Well, I am thoroughly loving it with the kids in such form :-) !!

Recipe for a Heartening Lunch

There are days when you surprise yourself. Today is that day for me. Pondering throughout last night about what to cook for lunch for the next day, I finally decided to let creativity take over. I started putting things together with intuitive measurements. Amma told me that whatever I would prepare would be the breakfast for the day too…so there!



What I created was not only edible, it was beyond great :-). Had a wonderful lunch today! So lest I forget what I did, I am noting down the “recipe” here.


Recipe for Vegetable Pulav
Ingredients:


1. 1 1/2 cup basmati rice + 1/2 cup normal rice
2. Vegetables - carrot + beans + alu, cut like fingers
3. For the masala paste - 4 spoons coconut + 3 Lavanga + 2 elakki + 3 large pieces of Chakke + 2 green chillies
4. For tempering – Oil, Jeera , Gasagase (Poppy Seeds), Onion, Ginger garlic paste – add according to spice level preference
5. Tomato puree - of 3 large tomatoes
6. Garam masala powder – ½ spoon
7. Red Chilli powder – ¼ spoon
8. Salt to taste

Method:


1. Grind masala paste with little water
2. Wash the rice and keep it aside
3. Make the puree out of tomatoes
4. Pour 4 tbsp of peanut oil in cooker -> Add Jeera, Gasagase, Onions and G&G paste
5. Add vegetables and fry
6. Add ground masala paste and fry till the raw smell is gone
7. Add the washed rice and fry
8. Add tomato puree and fry for 2-3 minutes till it becomes gooey
9. Add garam masala powder (1/2 tsp) and red chilli powder (little) if spice level is not enough
10. Add water and salt
11. Cook for 2 whistles+1 minute
12. Pulav is ready to serve


And here is how it looked....